Gabriel Jesus has admitted the wheels came off Arsenal’s Premier League title bid last season from the moment William Saliba suffered a back injury.
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The France international had cemented his place at the heart of the Gunners’ defence having been left waiting in the wings for three years.
Alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba formed arguably the strongest central defensive partnership in the division.
The 22-year-old missed the run-in, however, after he strained his back in a Europa League defeat against Sporting Lisbon in March.
Rob Holding initially took Saliba’s place but struggled in the games against Liverpool, West Ham and Manchester City in which Arsenal dropped vital points.
January recruit Jakub Kiwior showed promise when he eventually replaced Holding but by then the damage had already been done.
Arsenal had coped admirably prior to Saliba’s setback in the absence of Jesus, who was ruled out for three months after he damaged his knee at the World Cup, but the Brazil international admits the young Frenchman has become an essential part of Mikel Arteta’s emerging side.
‘When he plays, we concede few goals, when he doesn’t play, the number (goals conceded) increases,’ he said.
‘When I got injured, Eddie replaced me very well. Then we signed Leo (Trossard). We kept the pace.
‘But when Saliba got injured, it was complicated. The other defenders are good, but we were playing in a certain way. Look at the stats we concede a lot less with him.’
Saliba, meanwhile, returned to pre-season training this week and is expected to sign a new long-term contract before the club embarks on its tour of America where they are due to play games against Manchester United. MLS All Stars and Barcelona.
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